This offseason, Clemson has been more active in the transfer portal than in the past, not that that's saying much. Still, head coach Dabo Swinney has brought in some impact transfers that he hopes will help improve his team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
One of those players is Jeremiah Alexander, a linebacker who transferred from Alabama. This week, Alexander talked about his decision to come to Clemson and he said there was some divine guidance in the process.
"First off, I just want to thank God, you know," he said. "Going to get the opportunity to get recruited by Clemson for the first time was an unbelievable experience, and, you know, being able to go through it twice, it's funny, you know, God doesn't make mistakes and I'm glad he brought me back home."
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker from Alabaster, Alabama was originally recruited by Clemson out of high school as a member of the class of 2022. At the time, he was a 5-star recruit and the No. 1 edge rusher in the country. He wound up signing with Alabama but he never lived up to his 5-star billing in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama transfer LB Jeremiah Alexander on getting recruited a second time by Clemson and his relationship with DL Peter Woods (former HS teammate.)
— Derrian Carter (@DerrianCarter00) February 6, 2025
Alexander was the third player to transfer to Clemson during the winter cycle. pic.twitter.com/BqZgNLpKgH
In three seasons he appeared in 28 games, mostly on special teams. He was credited with 11 tackles during his time with the Crimson Tide.
This offseason, he was one of three transfers that Swinney and Co. brought into the locker room. 247Sports rated him a 4-star transfer despite his modest career stats, a nod to his massive potential.
Alexander is one of two defensive transfers that Clemson has added in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The other is Purdue defensive end Will Heldt who is also a 4-star transfer. As a sophomore in 2024, Heldt came up with 56 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 12 games played.
One other note about Alexander is that he was a high school teammate of current Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. In 2024, Woods made 28 tackles (including nine for loss) and 3.0 sacks.
Now, he's roommates with Alexander and that pair will look to help elevate the Clemson defense in 2025 as they reunite on the football field. Hopefully, now that Alexander is "home", he will blossom into a difference-maker for the Tiger.s